Fluid Flow in Chondritic Parent Bodies: Deciphering the Compositions of Planetesimals

Alteration of the Allende meteorite caused shifts in oxygen isotope ratios along a single mass fractionation line. If alteration was caused by aqueous fluid, the pattern of oxygen isotope fractionation can be explained only by flow of reactive water down a temperature gradient. Down-temperature flow...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1999-11, Vol.286 (5443), p.1331-1335
Main Authors: Young, Edward D., Ash, Richard D., England, Philip, Rumble, Douglas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbonaceous chondrites
Carbonates
Chondrites
Chondrites (Meteorites)
Climate
Cosmochemistry. Extraterrestrial geology
Distillation, Fractional
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fractional distillation
Fractionation
Ice
Isotopes
Italian ices
Liquids
Magnetite
Meteorites. Tectites. Impactites
Meteors & meteorites
Mineralogy
Minerals
Oxygen
Rocks
Water
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Summary:Alteration of the Allende meteorite caused shifts in oxygen isotope ratios along a single mass fractionation line. If alteration was caused by aqueous fluid, the pattern of oxygen isotope fractionation can be explained only by flow of reactive water down a temperature gradient. Down-temperature flow of aqueous fluid within planetesimals is sufficient to explain the mineralogical and oxygen isotopic diversity among CV, CM, and CI carbonaceous chondrites and displacement of the terrestrial planets from the primordial slope 1.00 line on the oxygen three-isotope plot.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.286.5443.1331